spitzglass



J y 11, 1939- v A. F. SPITZGLASS 2,166,077

HEG'ULATING APPARATUS AND METHOD 7 Filed Oct. 26, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a magm w y 11, 1939- A. F. SPITZGL'ASS 1 9 7 REGULA'IING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Oct. 26, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 5 lllllll uluununnun "V "VIHaIIVHHI L 0/70/4/6 PIPESSURE Inventor Patented July 11 1939 PATENT OFFICE 2,188,077 BEGULATING APPARATUS METHOD Albert E. Spitzglass, Chicago, in, assignor to Republic Flow Meters Company, Chicago, 111., a.

corporation of Illinois Application October 26, 1936, Serial No. 107,650

22 Claims.

This invention relates to regulating apparatus and methods and more particularly to regulation which is highly sensitive and accurate and the condition to be controlled or regulated. This producesan extremely accurate regulation and permits the condition to be maintained within very close limits of the desired value. With so called "metered or "measured regulation of this type, however, there may in occasional cases be one part of the operating range where very 15 small changes in regulating force will produce large changes in the control elements for controlling the condition. For example, in a boiler regulator when the boiler is operating at low rating, as when it is banked, very small changes in the regulating force will produce large changes in the rating. This results in a very delicate'balance and requires extremely careful adjustment.

Another type of regulation controls according 25 to position rather'than to actual measurement I of the condition, i. e. for a given demand the control elements are set in a certain position. This type of regulation is extremely stable throughout the entire operating range but is not 0 very accurate, particularly at the high part of the range, and will'not permit operation within very close limits. A

It is one of the objects of the present invention to combine the two above noted types of regulation to provide, for the cases where a very wide range of operation is desired, metered regulation throughout, the major portion of the operating range and position regulationin that' portion of the range in which metered regula- 40 tion is relatively, unstable.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a regulating system which is responsive to a measurement of a function of the device and which is modified throughout a portion only of 45 the operating range according to the position of a control element.

One arrangement for carrying out the above and other objects of the invention includes a regulator connected to a control element and 50 having sensitive means responsive to a function or the device or condition to be controlled. The regulator preferably includes a resilient element which normally exerts a constant force' balanced with the sensitive means and a cam effec- 55 tive during a part only of the operating range -to vary the force according to the position of the regulator. The regulator or a plurality of similar regulators may be master loaded, if desired, in which case the master loading force is preferably balanced against the sensitive means 5 and the resilient element.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention including'novel elements, subcombinations and regulating methods will be better understood from the following description w when read in connection with the accompany-1 ing drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a boiler regulating systemembodying the invention;

Figures 2 and 3 are more or less diagrammatic sectional views of one of the regulators of Figure 1 showing different positions;

Figure 4 is a similar view of the other regulator;

Figures 5, 6, '1 and 8 are partial views of modi- 2 fled constructions; and

Figure 9 is a chart indicating regulator operation.

Figure 1 illustrates a boiler l0 having a combusti on chamber i2 and a bank of water tubes H in which steam is generated, the steam pass- 2 ing through a suitable steamdrum I6 to a head-, er l8 from which it is distributed to one or more points of use. A plurality of baflies are provided to deflect the hot combustion gases over the tubes and to provide a first pass 22 and a second pass 24, a flue 26 communicating with the-second pass.

Fuel is supplied to the boiler by means of a stoker 28 driven by an electric motor 30 which is controlled by a rheostat 32 whereby the rate of fuel feed may be varied. Air for combustion may be drawn into the boiler by natural draft or by an induced draft fan or may be forced into the boiler by a forced draft fan 34 as shown.

The boileris controlled by. a master control system including a master controller indicated generally at 36 and having a diaphragm element 38 connected to the header I8 by apipe 40. This master controller may be of the type described 4 in Smoot Reissue Patent No. 16,507. The diaphragm 38 acts on one end of a weigh beam 02 balanced about a fixed fulcrum 44 and .having its opposite end controlling a cup valve 46 which controls the leakage of air froman air cham- 5o ber 48. Preferabiy'a fixed spring 40 is connected to the weigh beam to act against the diaphragm 38.

Air is supplied to the air chamber 48' from a constant supply source 50 past'a needle valve 52 and passes from the chamber 48 past a throw over valve 54 and a needle valve 56 to anair chamber 58. A chamber 68 is also connectedto the supply source 58 and to the throw over valve and has a bleed opening controlled by a cup valve 82 which rests on one end of a weigh beam 64, the opposite end of which is connected to a spring 66. The tension on' the spring 66 can be controlled by a bell crank lever 88 and a manual adjusting screw 18.; The valve 54 can be operated to connect either the chamber 48 or the chamber 80 to the chamber 58 thereby taprovide either automatic or manual control as desired. 1

The air chamber 58 communicates past needle 1' valves 72 with a pair of air chambers 14 and I8, each having an. atmospheric bleed controlled by a needle valve 78. The chambers I4 and 18 are connected to the air and fuel regulators re-- spectively and are preferably provided with manometers 88 which indicate the air-fuel ratio. Flow of air throughthe furnace may be controlled by i damper 82 in the flue 26 although it will be apparent that the same eifect could be obtained by controlling a suitable valve in the air inlet or by adjusting the speed of the blower 34. The damper 821s connected to a regulator 84 (Fig. ures 2 and 3) through a suitable linkage 88 so that as the power element of the regulator moves down the damper will be closed and conversely.

The regulator 84 includes a weigh beam 88 balanced about a fixed fulcrum 88 by means of a diaphragm element 92 connected through a pipe 84 with the chamber I4. The opposite end of the weigh beam is connected to a diaphragm 88, the

upper surface oi which is connected by a pipe 88 with the first boiler pass 22 and the lowersurface of which is connected by a pipe I08 with the secend boiler pass 24, whereby the diaphragm 88 measures the pressure drop between the two passes and consequently. the flow through the furnace; A- tension spring I02 is connected at one end to the weigh beam on the same side of the fulcrum as the diaphragm 98 and has its opposite end connected to one end of a bell crank lever m, the opposite end of which carries a cam roller I08 whose purpose will appear later.

The weigh beam 88 carries a rod I88-whose endis adapted'to overlie and to control the effective size'of an orifice H8 formed in a body H2. The orifice co municate's'with one end of a cylinder H4 in wh i zh a differential piston H8 is mounted, the piston having an orifice II8 therethrou Preferably the piston H8 isdrilledto form a dash-pot cylinder I having apiston I22 therein, the piston being connected to the weigh beams 88 on the same side of the fulcrum as the diaphragm element 82. Fluid," such as oil; under pressure is supplied to the cylinder II4 above the piston H6 through an inlet I24\and after flowing through the openings II8 andllfl is discharged through an outlet I26.

The differential piston us carries a rigid arm I28 which is connected to the linkage 88 so that as'the piston moves up the damper 82 will be opened and vice versa'. The arm I28 is also connected by a link I38 with a rotatably mounted cam. I32 which is pivoted adjacent the bell cranklever I84 to engage the roller I88. The major portion of the camis circular as indicated at I34 to maintain a' constant setting of the crank lever and hence of the tension of the sp' 3' m;

but it is formed adJacent one end with an eccentric portion I88 which will be 'eil'ective to change "the setting of the bell crank lever and spring for 46 more tightly against its seat crease of master loading pressure in the cham- The increased master creased demand a purpose to appear later; r

The rheostat 32 whlchcontrols the speed of the motor and stoker 28 is controlled by a regulator I38 (Figure 4) which is substantially identical with the regulator 84 and which will, accordingly, not be described in detail. The regulator I38 differs from the regulator 84 mainly in substitution, for the diaphragm element 98, of a speed responsive device I40 ,of the type fully described and claimed in the patents to Smoot, Nos.

1,361,107, 1,530,740, 1,616,512. The device I40 includes a liquidtight casing I42having a. plurality of radial vanes in its bottom and which is connected to a shaft I44 driven through bevel gears from a pulley I 46 which is connected by a suitable driving belt to the stoker. A non-rotatable disc I48 having a series of vanes on its upper surface is mounted in the casing and is connected to one endof the. weigh beam 88. As explained in said Smoot patents, the higher the speed of rotation of the casing I42, which is directly proportional to the stoker'speed, the greater will be the downward force exerted by the disc I 48 on the weigh beam 88. The diaphragm "element 92 balances the combined force of the device I48 and the spring I02 and is connected by avpipe I58 with the air chamber 18.

When the boiler is operating at normal rating the regulators 84 and I38 will occupy substantially the, positions shown in Figures 3 and 4 in which the circular portions I34 of the cams I32 engage the rollers I86. With the parts in this position, assume that there is an increased demand for steam, thereby creati g a reduction of pressure in the header I8. is will cause a corresponding pressure reduction in the diaphragm chamber 38, permitting the spring 40 to urge the cup valve to create an inbers 48, 58-, 14 and 16. leading pressure on the diaphragm elements 92 of the regulators will swing the weighbeams 88 clockwise about their fulcrums to lower the valve "rods I88 and tores'trict the openings 0. This increases the pressure on the lower-sides of the diiferential pistons H6 and causes the pistons to rise, thereby moving the damper 82 and rheostat 32 to new settings to increase the rates'of air and fuel supply to the.boiler.

As the air flow and stoker speed increase to correspond to the new settings the forces exerted by the diaphragm 86 and the disc I48 crease to balance the increased forces exerted by the diaphragm elements 82, thereby to produce a new balance of the system with the boiler operating at a higher rating to correspond to the in- However, there willbe some time lag before the air flow and stoker speed can increase enough to balance the increased master loading force and the dash pot I20, I22 isprovided to anticipate this time lag to prevent aver-control and hunting. Y a

It will be noted that "as the pistons"II6 rise, the dash pot pistons. I22 exert a force on the weigh beams 88 toreturn'them to their neutral position and to stop the motion of pistons 8. This force will gradually fade out due to leakage of fluid through the ventinthe pistons I22 but Will in- .these conditions whenever there is a change in demand the regulators will move..immediately to the new settings required to satisfy the demand and will remain there until there is a further change in demand. It will be apparent that if there is a reduced demand the movemerits and forces acting in the system will be exactly the reverse of those described above to reduce the stoker speed and close the damper.

The cams I32 are so designed that the regulators may move a very appreciable amount without running the rollers I06 oil of the'circular portions I34 so that during this range of movement the tension of springs I02 will remain constant.

Thus the system will operate to produce metered f 15 control, theweigh beams 88 always being balanced by the master loading force and by functions of boiler operation, i. e., air flow and fuel supply. This is the desired operation during most normal operating ranges, but at extremely low ratings, for example when the boiler is banked, very small changes in the master loading pressure will produce considerably larger than normal changes in rating, and if it should be desired to maintain the steam pressure in the system absolutely constant in such cases, rather careful adjustment would be required. No such accuracy is required, as what is wanted is merely that the regulator should go to a predetermined setting and remain there; at the same time it is desired to have the regulator automatically assume its normal method of control as soon as a load comes on. According to the present invention, the metered system at such low ratings is replaced by substituting a position characteristic to the by to increase their stability. At such very low ratings this-is sufficiently accurate, as in fact no accuracy of adjustment is at that time required,

and it permits the use of a more sensitive adjust- 'ment at the higher ratings without sacrificing accuracy. For this purpose the eccentric portions I36 of the cams I32 are arranged to engage the "rollers I06 when the regulators are set to produce low ratingoperation as shown in Figure 2. When this portion of the cams is effective, the tension of springs I02 will be changed for each change of setting of the regulators to. produce a variable effect .of the springs on the weigh'beams according to the positions of the regulators. Obviously the cam portions I36 may be designed to produce any desired type of characteristic and may/be made effective during any desired part of the operating range. 1 Operation of the system is illustrated graphicaliy' in Figure 9 in which horizontal distances represent boiler rating and vertical distances represent master loading pressure. Regulator setting is represented by the curve A and its dotted continuation A for metered operation. The curve is in the form of a square root curve and in its dotted portion A" becomes relatively flat so that small changes in loading pressure willproduce large changes in rating. Operation of the cam tends to straighten this curve out andproduces operation along the curve B at low, ratings, the-combined curve A 'B being relatively straight so that equal changes in loading pressure throughout the entire operating range. This causes a much' more stable operation of thesystem at extremely low ratings and gives the desiredregulators to make them less sensitive and therewill produce substantiallyequal changes in rating rangements which can be employed in place of the rotatable cam I32, Figure including a cam rod I54 engaging the roller I06 and slidable in a .fixed guide I66. The rod I54 includes a straight portion'to hold the bell crank lever I04 in con- 5 stant position and a cam -portion I38 to engage theroller I06 and change the setting of the lever I04 and spring I02 during a part of the operating range.

In the arrangement of Figures 6 and '1 a. rod I60 is connected to the arm H8 and is slidable ina fixed guide I62. The rod I60 carries a roller I64 for engagement with a cam shaped arm I66 of a bell crank lever, the opposite end of which is connected to the spring I02. ,The bell crank lever is normally held against a stop I68 by a heavy spring I10 in Figure 6 and by a weight in Figure '7 to provide a constant tension on the spring I02, the bell crank lever being moved about its pivot to vary the tension on spring I02 by engagement of the roller I64 with the cam portion I66 during a part of the operating range.

The stops I68 are preferably mounted on yokes I69 carried by bolts I1I which are rotatably mounted on fixed members I13. By adjusting the bolts I1I the vertical position of the stops I68 can be adjusted to vary the normal positions of the cam arms I66 and consequently to vary the .point at which the rollers I64 will engage the cam arms. By this means the range in which the position control is effective can be readily adjusted to adapt the system to difierent operating conditions. K

Figure 8 illustrates an adjustable cam adapted to be used: in place/of the cam portion I66 of Figures 6 and '1 including a. bell crank lever having a fixed arm I14 for connection with spring I02and adapted to engage a fixed stop I16 and a second arm I18 carrying a plurality of adjusting screws I80. A flexible strip I82 overlies the ends of the adjusting screws and is adapted to assume various shapes as the screws I80 are adjusted. The strip I62 engages a roller I84 carried by a rod -=IB6 which operates; in the same manner as the rod I of Figures 6 and '1. By adjusting the screws, I80 the characteristic imparted to the regulator by the cam may be adjusted thereby to vary the curve B of Figure 9 to give the desired operation for any particular case.

i It will be apparent that the method of regulation and the regulating apparatus can be applied equally well in boilers fired by oil or gas or can be utilized tocontrol various devices other than boilers. Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the invention shall be limited either to boiler controY or to the particular apparatus illustrated or othterlwise than by the terms 01' the appended claims.

What is claimed is: T 1. The method of controlling a steam boiler or the like which comprises automatically regulating the supply of fuel and air to a boiler in accordance with the balance between afunction o! v the steam generated and functions of the fuel and air flow respectively, and varying said. regu lation at low boiler ratings in accordance with the I positions of elements controlling the fuel and air supply;

2. The method of controlling a steam boiler or the like which comprises balancing a force variable in accordance with-a function of the steam generated against another force variable in accordance 'with 'the supply of a combustion ingredient, controlling the supply of the combustion incredient to the boiler in accordance with said 75.

balance, and varying said other force throughout a predetermined range only of boiler operation in a cordance with the control of the supply of said combustion ingredient.

3'. The method of controlling a steam boiler or the like which comprises balancing a force variable in accordance with a function of the steam generated against another force variable in accordance with the supply of a combustion ingredient, controlling the supply of the combustion ingredient tothe boiler in accordance with said balance, and varying said other force at low boiler ratings only in accordance with the position of an element controlling the supply of said combustion ingredient.

4. The method of controlling a steam boiler or the like which comprises balancing a force variable in accordance witha function of the steam generated against a normally constant force. varying a master control force in accordance with variations in said balance, balancing said master control force separately against forces varying respectively with functions of the fuel and air supplies to the boiler, controlling the fuel and air supplies respectively in accordance with said last named balances, and varying said last named balancesothroughout a predetermined range of boiler operation in accordance with variations in the control of the fuel and air supplies respectively.

5. The method of controlling a steam boiler or the like which comprises balancing'a force variable in accordance with a function of the steam generated against a normally constant force,

varying a master control force in accordance with variations in said balance, balancing said master control force separately against normally constant forces and against forces varying respectively with functions ofthe fuel and air supplies to the boiler, varying the positions of control-elements for the fuel and air in accordance with variations in said last named balances respectively, and varying said last named normally I constant forces throughout a predetermined range of "boiler operation in accordance with variations in the positions of said control elements respectively. J

6; The'method of regulating a device having a control element for controlling a factor contribut ing to operation of the device which comprises measuring a function of operation of the device, measuring a function of said factor, balancing said measurements against each other, adjusting said control element in accordance with said balance, and varying the balance in accordance with variations inthe position of ,the control element during a portion only of the range of ade justment of the control element.

"I. A boiler control system comprising-a control element for controlling the supply of a combustion ingredient to a boiler, a balance urged inone direction by a force varying in accordance with variations in a function of the steam.generated, means responsive to;a function of the. supply of said ingredient and means creating a.

normally constant force for urging the balance in the other direction, means operated by said balancefor adjusting said control element, and means operated by said control element throughout. a predetermined range of movement thereof to vary said normally constant force.

8. 'A'boller control system comprising control elements for controlling the supply of fuel and air to a boiler, regulators for controlling said elements respectively, said regulators including cordance with variations in a function of the steam generated, and means connected to said regulators and adjustable in accordance with the adjustment of said control elements during a predetermined range of boiler operation, to vary said balance means. n

9. A boiler control system comprising a plurality of control elements for controlling factors contributing to boiler operation, a plurality of regulators for controlling said elements, each regulator including means balanced by a force variable in accordance with a function of the respective factor, a force variable in accordance with a function of'boiler operation and a normally constant force, and means operable only during a predetermined range of boiler operation to vary said normally constant force in accord- .ance with'variations in the adjustment of the associated control element 10. A boiler control system comprising a. plurality of controlelements for controlling factors contributing to boiler operation, a plurality of regulators for controlling said elements, a master controller responsiveto a function of boiler 'operation for producing variations in a master loading force, each of said regulators including means balanced by said master loading force, a force ,0;

variable in accordance with a function of the respective factor and a normally constant force, and cam operated means operable during a predetermined range of movement'of the control variations in the factor. said power means being connected to the control element to adjust it, and means operated by the power means during aportion only of the movement thereof to vary the balance.

12. A regulating system for a steam boiler comprising an air control, a stoker for supplying fuel to the boiler having a speed control, a master controller responsive to steam pressure for producing variations in a master loading force, an air regulator including power means connected to the air control, a weigh beam, means responsive to the master loading force for urging the weigh beam in one direction, a diaphragm responsive toair. flow through the boiler and a spring for urging the weigh beam imthe other direction, said weigh beam controlling the power means, and a cam operated by movement of the power means during a portion only of its range to adjust said spring in accordance with the position of the power means.

13. A regulating system for a steam boiler comprising an air control, a stoker for supplying fuel to the boiler having a speed control, a master controller responsive to steam pressure for producing variations in a master loading force. a stoker speed regulator including power means connected to the speed control, a weight beam,

means responsive to the master loading force for urging the weigh beam in one direction. a device responsive to stoker speed and a spring for urging the weigh beam in the other direction, said weigh beam controlling the power means, and a cam operated by movement of the power means during a portion only of its range to adjust said spring in accordance with the position of the power means.

14. A regulator comprising power means, balance means for controlling the power means, sensitive devices acting in opposite directions on the balance means, an elastic member connected tothe balance means and assisting one of the sensitive devices to urge it in one direction, and means operatedby the power means during a portion only of its movement for varying the tensionpf the elastic memben,

15. A regulator comprising power means, balance means for controlling the power means, sensitive devices acting in opposite directions on the balance means, an elastic member connected to the balance means and assisting one of the sensitive devices to urge it in one direction, and a cam'operated by the power means and effective during a portion only of the movement thereof and cooperating with said elastic member for varying'the tension thereof.

16. A regulator comprising power means, balance means for controlling the power means, sensitive devices acting in opposite directions on the balance means, an elastic member connected to the balance means and assisting one of the sensitive devies to urge it in one direction, a rotary cam mounted on a fixed pivot and having a circular portion and a non-circular portion, said cam controlling the elastic member whereby the tension of the elastic member will be constant when the circular portion of thecam is effective and will be varied when the non-circular part of the cam is efiective, and a connection from the cam to the power means.

17. Aregulator comprising reciprocable power means, balance means for controlling the power means, sensitive devices acting in opposite directions on the balance means, an elastic member connected to the balance means and assisting one of thesensitive devices to urge it in one direction, and cam means connected to the elastic member and vtb the power means and operated by reciproeating" movement of the power means during a portion only of its range of movement to vary the tension on the elastic member.

18. A regulator comprising reciprocable power means, balance means for controlling the power means, sensitive devices acting in opposite directions on the balance means, an elastic member connected at one end to the balance means and assisting one of the sensitive devices to urge it in one direction, a bell crank lever mounted on a fixed pivot and connected at one endto the other endof the elastic member, an adjustable cam member on the bell crank lever, and a roller moved by the power means and engageable with said cam member to vary the tension on the elastic member during apart only of the moveone direction, a bell crank 'lever mounted on a fixed pivot and connected at one end to the other end of the elastic member, a flexible strip carried by the other end of the bell crank lever,

adjusting screws extending through the lever and engaging'the strip whereby the shape of the strip may be changed, and a pin moved by the power means and engageable with the strip to vary the tension on the elastic member.

20. A boiler control system comprising a regulator for regulating a control element governing a factor contributing to boiler operation, said regulator including means responsive to a function of boiler operation and to a function of saidfactor to control the boiler throughout a portion of its range in accordance with a measure of said functions, said regulator also including means responsive to the position of said control element to control the boiler throughout another portion of its range in accordance with-the position of the element.

21. A boiler control system comprising a regulater for regulating a control element-governing a factor contributing to boiler operation, said regulator including means responsive to a function of boiler operationand to a function of said factor to control the boiler throughout its range in accordance with a measure of said. functions to effect a metered control, said regulator also including means responsive to the position of said control element to superimpose a position characteristic on said metered control throughout a' portion of the boiler range.

22. A boiler control system comprising a regulator for regulating a control element governing a factor contributing to boiler operation, said regulator including means responsive to a function of boiler operation and to a function of said factor to control the boiler throughout its range in accordance with a measure of said functions to effect a metered c ontrol, said regulator also including means responsive to'the position of said control element to superimpose a position characteristic on said metered-control throughout the lower portion of the boiler operating range.

,. ALBERT F. SPITZGLASS. 

